The Scotland African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church’s efforts to restore and expand its Potomac building was selected to receive the 2024 Legacy Award for Civic Engagement and Community Impact from the International Salute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Church and community members will be honored Jan. 14 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.
This is the first time the committee chose a non-profit group for this award.
“Carrying the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. forward, the 2nd Century Project has brought together thousands of people in a remarkable campaign launched in 2022,” said Madeline Lawson, committee founder.
“In addition to raising funds to restore and expand the historic AME Zion Church at the Scotland community, the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery County, Maryland in the 1960s, the dynamic modern campaign has focused on education, history, and interfaith engagement — all hallmarks of Dr. King’s efforts six decades ago.”
The church opened 100 years ago on Seven Locks Road in a settlement owned by African Americans. In 2019, a flood seriously damaged the building.
“The Scotland AME Zion Church represents a beacon of hope and perseverance and serves as a model for all people whose determination and faith can impact the community and the world,” said Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins, the church’s pastor.
“Martin Luther King, like the Scotland Church, believes ‘that love is the only force capable of turning an adversary to a friend, and hate is too much of a burden to carry.’ Our desire is also a ‘Beloved Community,’ and this award acknowledges our attempt to make a difference in the world.”
Related Post
